HOLIDAYING IN NELSON DISTRICT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 January 1940, Page 2

HOLIDAYING IN NELSON DISTRICT

HON. D. G. SULLIVAN AND FAMILY SCENIC BEAUTY OF GOLDEN BAY In the course of an interview before his departure from Nelson, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan who has been spending a few days holiday in the Nelson district said that like many other New Zealanders, when he visited the very pleasant city of Nelson he wished heartily that he coutcl stay longer. The people here had indeed no cause to envy the residents of larger cities, for the folk had truly a complete city. In this, to his mind, they most closely resembled the people of his own city— Christchurch. NELSON, A GARDEN CITY “Here you have full provision for health of body and mind. With a cultural background which reaches back to the days of the pioneers, the people of Nelson have reason for pride in the place which they hold to-day in New Zealand’s development as a nation. People of Nelson City and province have not been excelled by any others of New Zealand in taking advantage of natural assets. They have certainly turned nature’s kindness to good account with their marketing of early peas, tomatoes and other produce. That annual average of more than 2,500 hours of sunshine has been made to work well for Nelson. Nelson is distinctly a garden city which is increasing in its loveliness from year to year. He had been pleased to read reports that many of the citizens, in their well-planned gardening operations, had the native birds well in mind. They had planted trees and shrubs which yielded feasts of nectar or berries for tuis and bell-birds, and thus they had that ideal alliance of beauty and song. He understood that some of the cities and towns had a kind of informal competition for the tui premiership by taking care to provide attractive food throughout the year. New Plymouth, Wanganui, Akaroa and other towns had been mentioned as claimants for the tui championship. There was good reason to believe that the people of Nelson would be strongly in the running for first place. It was delightful to see this encouragement of the tui, which Zane Grey described as the most melodious bird he had ever heard. GOLDEN BAY Referring to the Takaka district Mr Sullivan said that his visit had been brief but he had found time to see the famous springs, the West Haven Inlet, Puponga, Pohara Beach and the Totaranui Beach. He had revelled in the glories of the bush, the beaches, and red rata in profusion among masses of green native, attractive vistas of land and seascape and felt that he was in one of the most favoured lands on earth with the sunny climate, and beautiful scenery. He must not forget to mention that one of the thrills had been the feeding of the tame eels. He had talked with many residents of the area who I ad been in the district for generations and understood their love for the place. ONEKAKA He had had conversations with workers’ farmers, and townsmen and found an intense interest in Onekaka prospects, but he regretted he was not in a position to answer the many questions put to him though there was no one in the country more keen than he was to see the steel works established. He had paid a brief unofficial visit to Onekaka on Sunday to explain the layout of the place to members of his family who had accompanied»him, but had transacted no official business. He hoped soon to be able to return to look over the work in his official capacity. His brief visit to the Takaka district had been a very happy, one indeed, appreciated both by himself and the members of his family.